Lisicki, who lost last year’s final to Maria Kirilenko, struggled right from the start, dropping her serve in the opening game. And although the German leveled at 2-2, Vekic broke again, led 5-3 and served for the set at 5-4 before Lisicki won the next three games. Early in the second set, Lisicki received attention to her right shoulder and Vekic went on to take the set with ease as her opponent struggled with her serve. After an early exchange of breaks early in the final set, Lisicki broke again to lead 5-3, failed to serve out the match, but then broke serve again to claim victory.

“It happened during the match and as it went on, it got worse and worse,” Lisicki said of her shoulder. “It was really, really tough to serve at all. I couldn’t serve the way I wanted and the way I usually serve, but the most important thing is that I fought it out. I ran down every ball. I played the finals here last year and have good memories, so I really wanted to keep on playing and finish the match and not lose in the first round.”

Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues suffered the first 6-0, 6-0 defeat of her 16-year career as she lost to American Alison Riske in just 58 minutes.

In the women’s doubles, Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and Hsieh Shu-ying were defeated by Kimiko Date-Krumm of Japan and Ajla Tomljanovic Croatia of 2-6, 6-4, 10-8.